Elbit Systems (NASDAQ:ESLT) Upgraded at Wall Street Zen

Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Elbit Systems (NASDAQ:ESLT) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note published on Saturday morning.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Elbit Systems from $530.00 to $580.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, December 19th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Elbit Systems in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Morgan Stanley started coverage on Elbit Systems in a report on Thursday, December 11th. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $531.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Zacks Research lowered shares of Elbit Systems from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 12th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $550.33.

Elbit Systems Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:ESLT opened at $730.84 on Friday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $552.79 and its 200 day simple moving average is $503.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 0.76. Elbit Systems has a 1 year low of $293.61 and a 1 year high of $737.51. The stock has a market capitalization of $32.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 74.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 0.22.

Elbit Systems (NASDAQ:ESLT) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 18th. The aerospace company reported $3.35 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.75 by $0.60. Elbit Systems had a return on equity of 15.04% and a net margin of 5.91%.The company had revenue of $1.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.99 billion. As a group, research analysts predict that Elbit Systems will post 8.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Elbit Systems Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, January 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 22nd were issued a dividend of $0.75 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 22nd. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.4%. Elbit Systems’s dividend payout ratio is currently 22.87%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. CoreCap Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Elbit Systems during the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. USA Financial Formulas bought a new position in shares of Elbit Systems in the third quarter valued at $26,000. Activest Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Elbit Systems during the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Traub Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Elbit Systems in the 2nd quarter worth about $31,000. Finally, Financial Consulate Inc. bought a new position in Elbit Systems in the 3rd quarter valued at about $60,000. Institutional investors own 17.88% of the company’s stock.

About Elbit Systems

Elbit Systems Ltd. is an Israel-based defense electronics company that designs, develops and supplies a broad range of systems for military, homeland security and commercial aviation customers. The company focuses on integrated, platform-level solutions that combine sensors, communications, command-and-control software and weapons integration to support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), force protection and mission management.

Its product and service portfolio spans unmanned aircraft systems, electro-optic and signal intelligence systems, electronic warfare and communications equipment, avionics and mission systems for military and commercial aircraft, and land and naval systems.